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Our 8-year-old daughter sat at his knee, her eyes fixed on his fingers as he played the mandolin. It wasn't an instrument we were familiar with, but this master musician made it look simple. Moments later, he placed the instrument on Melissa's lap and encouraged her to try it. That experience lasted perhaps 30 minutes, but our daughter has never forgotten it.

Exposing our children to hands-on-experiences is one of the privileges of home schooling. There are master-teachers all around us - experts in their fields - and our children can learn from them. What type of hands-on experiences are available to us and where can we find them?

Crafts ~

From broom-making to basket weaving, sheep shearing to saddle-making, there are a host of crafts your children can learn. Look for crafters at antique shows, flea-markets, farmers' markets, county or state fairs and historical re-enactments. Check with your chamber of commerce for brochures that will help you locate - and learn more about - local artisans. Invite crafters to speak to a home school co-op or arrange to visit them for a hands-on experience. Your community college may offer courses in woodworking and other arts.

Art ~

Visit museums and art associations to see what's being produced locally: oil painting, chalk drawing, pottery-making, glass-blowing, photography and more. Have your students read about each craft before you visit so they will have intelligent questions. Some artists, anxious to give back to their communities, offer lessons and/or hands-on demonstrations to students. Be sure to visit county or state fairs when their exhibits are on display.

Music ~

From small towns to traffic-stopping cities, musicians are an important part of each community. Take in an evening concert, visit a sound studio and check the paper for local performers. Discover which types of music - orchestra, blue-grass, jazz - your child likes best. Visit music stores, interview local music teachers, take an introductory course in an instrument. There are a multitude of hands-on experiences when it comes to music.

Theater ~

If your area has a community theater, attend a production, get to the know the director and consider theater as an excellent elective course for your children. If they are natural performers, they'll have an outlet for their creative bent. If your child is shy, a supporting role gives them the opportunity to try something without being in the spotlight. Theater not only teaches poise, it helps improve diction, projection

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